From endless fields of sunflowers to the explosive beat of taiko drums, there’s never been a better time to experience Japan.
Is Japan on your list of must-visit (or return to) destinations? You’re not alone – with visitor numbers hitting over 25 million in 2023, Japan continues to entice first-time and seasoned travellers to its shores. But now with a favourable exchange rate, time-saving direct flights and a plethora of activities on offer, there’s never been a better time to visit the Land of the Rising Sun.
Here are our top reasons to book your next holiday to the home of all things kawaii.
New direct flight routes connect you easier than ever
Anyone who has experienced multiple flight transfers knows that sometimes it really isn’t the destination, it’s the journey that you remember most (and we know how that goes). Thanks to top airlines like Japan Airlines (JAL) opening more direct routes, there are more convenient options than ever. Travellers departing from Sydney Airport with Japan Airlines can reach Tokyo in just 10 hours and experience a primer in ometenashi, the essence of Japanese hospitality, while on board. With a quicker flight, skip the jet lag and save precious time and energy for the best part of your holiday.
The exchange rate on Japanese yen means more bang for your buck
Money makes the world go round, so it’d be nice to make your dollar go a bit further – and with the Japanese yen currently trading at an unprecedented favourable rate, it will. With an increased return on your currency exchange, there will never be a better time to splurge on your itinerary. Whether you’re tempted by a visit to Tokyo DisneySea, a traditional ryokan stay with a private onsen bath, or the purchase of luxury fruits (the Taiyou no Tamago mango and square watermelon are the perfect summer treat), enjoy access to greater value for every expenditure on your budget.
It’s less crowded out of cherry blossom season – and there’s plenty of flowers to see
Japan is world-famous for its cherry blossom season (rightly so), but the Japanese summer also offers flower fans an opportunity to admire the spectacle of nature with a fraction of the springtime crowds. Mid and late summer is the best time for Tokyo arrivals to see lotus flowers in all their pink and ivory glory. Lotus-viewing hotspots include Ueno Park’s Shinobazu Pond and Koishikawa-Korakuen Gardens near Suidobashi Station.
An easy day trip from Tokyo or Yokohama is the coastal city Odawara – visit during June and July for a ride on the ‘Hydrangea Train’. Aptly named for the clusters of violet, azure, and pink hydrangea bushes that bloom along that Hakone Tozan Railway line, it adds a touch of Studio Ghibli-esque whimsy to your journey up the mountain.
Experience authentic traditions at a Japanese festival
Summer is a season of celebration, during which some of the country’s most longstanding matsuri (festivals) take place. Staying in Kyoto? Venture to the Gion Matsuri (1 – 31 July), where the streets are colourful with grand processions of towering floats and shrine parishioners sing to the beat of traditional chimes, flutes and drums. Love the sound of music? Hear thundering taiko drums during the Kokura Gion Taiko festival. Send off July with a bang in Tokyo at the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival or release a paper lantern into the night sky at Osaka’s Senshu Beach Lantern Fest (6 & 7 July).
For a rare treat, head to Shikoku for the Tsushima Shrine Festival. Located on a tiny island off the coast of Mino Town, this shrine is only open two days of the year. On 4 & 5 August, locals cross the bridge onto the tiny island to receive blessings. Back on the mainland, wander festival stalls featuring carnival games and selling delicious eats, from sizzling yakisoba (fried buckwheat noodles) slathered in sweet soy sauce to cooling kakigori, a shaved ice dessert topped with sugary syrup or seasonal fruits.
Hokkaido was named one of The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024
Renowned for pristine ski slopes and sensational snow festivals, Hokkaido ranks high as a winter wonderland – it's no wonder Travel + Leisure’s added it to their ‘The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024’. Savvy travellers know that Japan’s northern island shines just as brightly in summer. Hokkaido’s largest city, Sapporo, is a seafood lover’s paradise. Visit Nijo Fish Market for the freshest catches and seafood rice bowls topped with premium Hokkaido crab, fat salmon roe, or sweet scallops. In mid-July to late August, nature lovers can snap an Insta-worthy picture among the 2 million sunflowers in bloom at the Hokuryu Sunflower Festival. If purple is more your colour, head further north to Furano, where Farm Tomita’s expansive lavender fields perfume the landscape with the scent of summer.
You can get close and personal with a national icon
Visitors to Japan all have a story about Mt. Fuji and the lengths they’ve taken to get that photo (yes, you know the one). The notoriously camera-shy mountain is often obscured by cloud cover – but from early July to September, thrillseekers can get closer than most dream to Japan’s beloved geographical icon on a hiking expedition. There are four ascending trails to challenge, just make sure to pre-book a mountain hut for an overnight sleep if you want to reach the summit for breathtaking sunrise vistas. Non-climbers can still enjoy charming views of Mt. Fuji surrounded by summer blossoms at nearby Lake Yamanakako Hana no Miyako Park, or rent a bike for a leisurely circuit around the lake.
Discover Japan
Looking for more inspiration? Check out 5 Reasons to See Japan on a Tour.
